A HISTORY OF SUSSEX 



little hesitation in accepting the identification. 

 Moreover I have recently had the satisfaction 

 of finding a second specimen. This I picked 

 up dead on July 9, 1 90 1, about a mile from 

 the place where the former occurred. The 

 animal was much mutilated and had probably 

 been killed by means of a stick. 



This species may be distinguished from 

 the viper (which it sometimes approaches in 

 general colouration) by the circumstance that 

 the dorsal scales are smooth, whereas in the 

 latter they have an elevated keel down the 

 middle. The dorsal scales in the grass snake 

 also are carinated. Full-grown examples are 

 about 17 (rarely more) inches in length. 



6. Viper. Vipera berus, Linn. 



Generally distributed but more local and 



less common than the grass snake. John 

 Perris, who has caught snakes in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Hastings for more than thirty 

 years, tells me that the largest viper he ever 

 caught measured 23^ inches. The old man 

 states that he has been bitten six times. It 

 is known that he has been medically treated 

 for snake-bite on two occasions, and I think 

 his statement may be accepted. On July 22, 

 1900, I received from Mr. B. Parratt of 

 Fairlight, Hastings, a female example of the 

 form known as the black adder, which had 

 been killed at Fairlight the same day by a 

 member of the coastguard service. In this 

 the ground colour is so dark as to obscure the 

 zigzag dorsal fascia. Mr. Sayer-Milward's 

 gamekeeper at Fairlight, to whom I showed 

 the specimen, saw a similar viper 'a few 

 years ago.' 



BATRACHIANS 



ECAUDATA 



1. Common Frog. Rana tempo>-aria, Linn. 

 Abundantly distributed throughout the 



county. 



2. Toad. Bufo vulgaris, Laur. 

 Generally distributed and common. 



3. Natter-jack Toad. Bufo calamita, Laur. 

 This species has been recognized in one 



locality only in Sussex up to the present, 

 namely, on the confines of Hampshire, in the 

 neighbourhood of Petersfield, where it is not 

 uncommon (Rev. H. Marmaduke Langdale 

 in lit.). 



The natter-jack is remarkable for its loud 

 croak and short hind limbs. It is readily dis- 

 tinguished from the common toad by the 

 presence of a yellowish stripe down the back. 



CAUDATA 



4. Great Crested Newt. Molge crista ta, Laur. 



Loca//y (Hastings), Jack Effet. 



Plentiful in most parts of the county. 



The breeding male is distinguished by the 

 presence of an elevated membranous dorsal 

 crest, which in the female is entirely absent. 



5. Common Smooth Newt. Molge vulgaris, 



Linn. 



{Lissotriton punctatus. Bell.) 

 Locally, EfFet. 



Generally distributed and common. This 

 is much smaller, and the crest is festooned 

 and not deeply serrated as in the last species. 



6. Palmated or Webbed Newt. Molge pal- 



mata, Schneid. 

 {Lissotriton palmipes. Bell.) 



Recorded from Eastbourne by C. Foran 

 {Science Gossip, 1879, p. 186). 



I have taken this species from ponds near 

 St. Leonards (Hollington, Silverhill, Bopeep), 

 Crowhurst, Battle, Ore, Bodiam, Sedles- 

 combe, and Hurstmonceaux. In some ponds 

 I have found almost all the newts to be of 

 this species. 



The webbed newt may be distinguished 

 from the common smooth newt ' at all stages 

 of life and at all seasons by the absence of 

 every trace of pigment on the throat, which 

 is of a transparent flesh colour ' (Boulenger). 

 In the smooth newt the nuptial crest of the 

 male is regularly crenate, but in this species 

 it is low and straight at the edge. 



272 



